Benjamin f



(N0 Model.)

B. F. OREWILER.

HOOK AND EYE.

No. 592,439. Patented Oct. 26, 1897.

Iljaeljfzp Hdiigesscs NTTED STATES PATENT BENJAMIN F. OREWVILER, OF SHELBY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF-FOUR-NINTHS TO JAMES CURRIE, OF SAME PLACE.

HOOK AND EYE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,439, dated October 26, 1897. Application filedApril 5 1897. Serial No. 680,878. (No model.)

To CLZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that LBENJAM N F. OREWILER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shelby, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Hook and Eye, of which the following is a specification.

A garment-fastening or hook and eye constructed in accordance with this invention is comparatively fiat and can be used in connection with tight-fitting garments without pressin g into the flesh or producing raised portions in the garment, which are unsightly and soon become threadbare. \Vhen used in connection with loose-fittin g garments, the fastening will not become accidentally disengaged, no matter to what angle the complementary parts may be relatively turned, and the fastening will not become unserviceable after a comparatively short period of use, the construction being of such nature that the parts are reinforced and interlocked at the point subject to and receiving the greatest wear and strain. Each part of the fastening is constructed of a single length of wire bent into the required shape, with a view to secure the greatest strength, ease of operation in coupling and uncoupling, and to utilize a minimum amount of material in comparison with the size and strength of the fastening.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportiomand the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a garmentfastening of the improved construction. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a side View of the hook. Fig. at is a similar view of the eye. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a modificationshowing the shanks provided at their extremities and intermediate of their ends with attachingeyes.

Oorrespondin g and like parts are referred to in thefollowing description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by the same reference-characters.

The eye 1 is constructed of a single piece of wire of suitable length to agree with the size of the completed fastening, and this wire is folded upon itself and bent to provide a ring or circle 2, the side members being brought together and interlocked by a half-twist, as shown at 3, and the end port-ions diverging and bent to provide attaching-eyes 4. By having the side members or bent portions of the wire interlocked by the half-twists, as shown at 3, the ring, circle, or loop 2 is prevented from spreading and can, if required, be slightly contracted by moving the attaching-eyes 4E closer together and securing them by stitching or other means to the garment or material to which the fastening is applied. Moreover, the shape of the eye is preserved and the fastening rendered more durable. The front portion of the ring or circle 2 is deflected, as shown at 5, to receive the ring or circular bill 6 of the hook and to come within the plane of the shanks 7 of the said hook.

The hook is formed of a length of wire bent upon itself to provide a ring 6, which is the circular bill of the completed fastening, and the side or end portions of the wire are interlocked by intermeshing half-twists, as shown at 8, and are bent to form shanks 7, which terminate in attaching-eyes 9, the shanks 7 conforming to the curvature of the ring or circular bill 6 and being concentric therewith, sufficient space being left between them and the bill for the free passage and introduction of the ring or circle 2. The outside diameter of the circular bill 6 is slightly longer than the inside diameter of the ring or circle 2, whereby force is required to be exerted when coupling and uncoupling the hook and eye or component parts of the fastening. By having the bill and the ring 2 of circular outline and relatively proportioned in the manner herein stated the parts cannot become accidentally disengaged, no matter to whatrelative angular adjustment they maybe turned, because in any position force must be exerted to pass the circular bill through the ring 2. By having the shanks 7 exterior to the circular bill-the hook is comparatively fiat, inasmuch as the bill may be nearly in the plane of the shanks. In some instances the shanks may be coiled at an intermediate point in their length, whereby additional attachingcyes 10 are provided, as clearly indicated in Fig. 5.

A fastening constructed substantially as herein set forth can be secured to a garment or material in substantially the same manner as the ordinary hook and eye and can be applied to loose or tight fitting garments and is not open to the objections urged against fastenings for a like purpose as generally constructed, inasmuch as it will not become separated when applied to loose garments or press in juriously against the person when ap- .plied to tight-fitting garments, as herein stated. The peculiar construction of the hook prevents it from being flattened, so as not to be engaged by the eye when it is required to couple the parts, and the lap is comparatively short, thereby adapting the fastening for tight-fitting garments without requiring the straining necessary to couple and uncouple hooks and eyes having a lap of the extent generally provided. In the event of the ring or circle 2 becoming enlarged from any cause it can be contracted by bringing the side or shank members together, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. l, and by this means provision is had for regulating the relative diameters of the parts 2 and 6, so as to prevent their accidental disengagement when coupled.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new is l. Agarment-fastening consisting of an eye constructed of a single length of wire bent upon itself, forming a ring or circle, and having its side portions brought together and interlocked by half-twists, and having the end portions diverging and terminating in attaching-eyes, and a hook formed of a single length of wire bent to provide a ring or circular bill having its external diameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of the ring of the eye, and having the side portions interlocked by half-twists, and having the .end portions exterior and conforming to the circular bill and terminating in attaching-eyes, the front portion of the ring of the eye being deflected to occupy a position between the shanks of the hook when the parts of the fastening are engaged, substantially as set forth.

2. In a garment-fastening,an eye constructed of a length of wire doubled upon itself and bent to provide a ring the front portion of which is deflected, and having the side portions brought together and interlocked by half-twists to permit the contraction and expansion of the ring in the manner and for the purpose described and the end portions diverging and bent inward, forming attaching eyes, substantially as set forth.

3. In a garment-fastening,a hook constructed of a length of wire doubled upon itself and bent to provide a ring or circular bill, and having the end portions interlocked by intermeshing half-twists to provide for the contraction and expansion of the circular bill and extended, forming shanks which curve aroundv the circular bill so as to leave spaces and terminating in attaching-eyes, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. OREVVILER.

Witnesses:

JAMES GURRIE, NELLIE FLETCHER. 

